Overseas Legal Counselling Services Necessary

 

More and more Chinese companies and citizens are moving abroad, which attracts some legal problems.

Fang Yan, an NPC deputy and vice president of the Bar Association in , suggested establishing legal counselling services in overseas agencies as soon as possible during the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC).

At present, there are counsellors in commerce, economy and culture in Chinese Embassies abroad.

When people seek legal assistance, commercial counsellors will deal with the situation.

However, the overseas commercial counsellors, who quite often lack systematic legal knowledge, usually adopt diplomatic negotiation tactics rather than providing professional guidance to solve the problem.

The Party and government have always stressed "diplomacy for people" to safeguard the legal rights and interests of Chinese companies and citizens.

Fang pointed out that China should embraces both the conditions and necessities to create posts for legal counsellors.

Firstly, the country has developed talents who have mastered foreign languages and international rules and regulations.

Secondly, increasing foreign investment in Chinese corporations has generated various legal conflicts.

Thirdly, overseas Chinese need professional guidance in related security problems.

"The Chinese government firmly safeguard the nation's interests and the benefits of citizens and legal persons," said Fang. She proposed that different ministries and departments should work together to establish an overseas legal counsellor system.

As for the selection, Fang recommended to openly recruit from wider society, and then select qualified candidates through evaluation.

The candidates should have expertise in law, have grasped a second language and be equipped with some working experience.

After passing the assessment, they will be trained by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Fang thinks the legal counsellors should communicate with Chinese companies and citizens and hold regular meetings. In this way, they can discover flaws quickly and provide solutions to safeguard the legal rights and interests of Chinese people.

This is Fang's first time to serve as an NPC deputy. She is also a member of the All-China Lawyers Association (ACLA), and special-invited expert in the School of Business of Renmin University and the Economics and Management Department of Northwest University.

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